Now, the city sees the custodian''s information as laying liability for medical bills at the state''s door, the article noted.

However, a spokesperson for CSCC has said that, "The city had full responsibility in the past and continues to have full responsibility today for any adverse effects of improper maintenance or malfunctioning equipment. Furthermore, because the leak was not caused by the actions of any employee of the college, any personnel action taken by the college has no relationship to the leak incident."

The State of Tennessee Claims Division also reviewed the leak incident: Both offices determined that the city, as the owner of the facility at which the leak occurred and the entity responsible for the maintenance of the facility, including the responsibility to provide maintenance to the heating and cooling system, was responsible for the carbon monoxide, the article stated.